Youth Jazz Orchestra project
Nikki Iles to mentor two young composers for the YJO project
Passing on the youth jazz orchestra tradition to a new generation of musicians
We are pleased to have helped Jo MCallum get funding from Arts Council England and find partners for her new project for young northern musicians aged between 12-25 as both performers and composers. Performers aged 12-18 and composers 18-25.
Jo says “I wanted to commission ten British jazz composers to each write an original work for youth jazz orchestra (YJO). The idea is that the composers will rehearse their new compositions with young musicians from ten YJOs across the north and the new music will be premiered and then kept by them, creating a legacy of original music”.
The composers who will be working with Jo on the project are Nikki Iles, Mike Walker, Dennis Rollins, Percy Pursglove, Laura Jurd, Rebecca Nash, Phil Meadows, Laura Cole. There’s also the opportunity for two young composers to take part and contribute their own new music. The young composers will be mentored by Nikki Iles.
The YJO taking part are Cheshire Youth Music for Life JO, Wigan YJO, Wakefield YJO, Sefton YJO, Musica Kirklees, Hull YJO, York Music Forum, Tees Valley YJ Collective, Leeds Youth Jazz Rock Orchestra and Jambone. Each band gets a copy of each of the new pieces, theirs to keep forever and they also get a one day workshop with one of the composers in 2024.
There is already a date in the diary to hear the new music. Hull Music Hub is offering to host a day for as many of the commissions project YJO to get together on Saturday 6th July at the Albermarle Centre in Hull to play their pieces.
Jo wants to add a huge thanks to all the partners and composers for their commitment and enthusiasm to the project. Jo says “Everyone is so busy and it’s wonderful that we can make this happen for so many young musicians living in the north of England”.
Apply now!
Right now, the most important thing is to get the word out about the commission opportunities for two young composers 18 - 25 years old. Deadline for applications is Monday 18 December 2023. We will provide further updates as the project develops!
Contact Jo McCallum for more details: jazzorchestracommissions@gmail.com
